EMERY FRANKLIN, FINE ARTIST
Emery Franklin is a fine artist who makes his living painting beautiful pictures. He created the “Crossroads: From Sagging to Success” Exhibit especially for display at the Memphis Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library during Black History Month (February 2011).
Raised in public housing, Emery sagged not in his clothing but in his thinking. He dreamed of making a living as a fine artist but saw no way out. Like the young man in the story, he searched for the key to success and found it in reading the right books and connecting with positive influences. When he changed the way he thought, his life changed.
Now a successful and prolific artist, Emery turns his thoughts, hopes, dreams and visions into paintings. His paintings tell stories. In his 2011 “Crossroads: From Sagging to Success” art series of 15 paintings, he highlights sagging pants and changing mindsets as he takes his viewers on a short journey through African American history and into the life of his main character in the series of paintings.
Emery motivates and inspires young people and adults by letting them know their dreams are reachable through prayer, meditation and dedication. He grew up in an impoverished area in South Memphis. The youngest of six children, he always aspired to be an artist. His first realization of his artistic talents was realized when he was in junior high at Vance Junior High School. His art teacher would assign him projects to create drawings and paintings that were used to teach his classmates the techniques and skills of creating art.
Throughout his years of drawing and painting, his artwork has become an expression of the rich cultural heritage of African Americans. There are certain principles that have greatly influenced his work. He believes his hands have been guided by God, as he always prays before starting each new creation. His family values are deeply rooted in religion, trust, and honesty. For his first big assignment, he was commissioned to create the cover for the 1998 Memphis Black Heritage Calendar. Since then his paintings have been featured at the National Civil Rights Museum and the Vesta Home Show and can be seen in local art galleries such as the Thomas Kinkade Inspiration Art Gallery and Gallery Fifty Six in Memphis, Thomas Kinkade Gallery at The Summit in Birmingham, and Gallery Swarm in Chicago. His work can be found in private, corporate and public collections as well as the offices of federal and state legislators. He has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles and on television shows such as Tennessee Crossroads (PBS), WYPL’s Library NewsLinc, and WHBQ Fox 13’s Good Morning Memphis. To see more of his work, visit www.fineartamerica.com. His dream is for the “Sagging to Success” book to become a national bestseller that encourages young people and adults to dream big and reach their goals.
His paintings are also available for sale at http://emery-franklin.artistwebsites.com.
YouTube.Com (Feb. 1, 2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNShDpums7g&feature=share&list=UUgNtFFmAx_fXcH16S1E5ij
Visit Book Photo Gallery
Raised in public housing, Emery sagged not in his clothing but in his thinking. He dreamed of making a living as a fine artist but saw no way out. Like the young man in the story, he searched for the key to success and found it in reading the right books and connecting with positive influences. When he changed the way he thought, his life changed.
Now a successful and prolific artist, Emery turns his thoughts, hopes, dreams and visions into paintings. His paintings tell stories. In his 2011 “Crossroads: From Sagging to Success” art series of 15 paintings, he highlights sagging pants and changing mindsets as he takes his viewers on a short journey through African American history and into the life of his main character in the series of paintings.
Emery motivates and inspires young people and adults by letting them know their dreams are reachable through prayer, meditation and dedication. He grew up in an impoverished area in South Memphis. The youngest of six children, he always aspired to be an artist. His first realization of his artistic talents was realized when he was in junior high at Vance Junior High School. His art teacher would assign him projects to create drawings and paintings that were used to teach his classmates the techniques and skills of creating art.
Throughout his years of drawing and painting, his artwork has become an expression of the rich cultural heritage of African Americans. There are certain principles that have greatly influenced his work. He believes his hands have been guided by God, as he always prays before starting each new creation. His family values are deeply rooted in religion, trust, and honesty. For his first big assignment, he was commissioned to create the cover for the 1998 Memphis Black Heritage Calendar. Since then his paintings have been featured at the National Civil Rights Museum and the Vesta Home Show and can be seen in local art galleries such as the Thomas Kinkade Inspiration Art Gallery and Gallery Fifty Six in Memphis, Thomas Kinkade Gallery at The Summit in Birmingham, and Gallery Swarm in Chicago. His work can be found in private, corporate and public collections as well as the offices of federal and state legislators. He has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles and on television shows such as Tennessee Crossroads (PBS), WYPL’s Library NewsLinc, and WHBQ Fox 13’s Good Morning Memphis. To see more of his work, visit www.fineartamerica.com. His dream is for the “Sagging to Success” book to become a national bestseller that encourages young people and adults to dream big and reach their goals.
His paintings are also available for sale at http://emery-franklin.artistwebsites.com.
YouTube.Com (Feb. 1, 2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNShDpums7g&feature=share&list=UUgNtFFmAx_fXcH16S1E5ij
Visit Book Photo Gallery
